Carlos Alcaraz wins star match, faces Tommy Paul in quarterfinals

Posted : 11 August 2023

Having reached the midpoint of the National Bank Open presented by Rogers in Toronto, and the quarterfinal matchups have been determined.
The final Canadian singles player, Milos Raonic, prepared on Centre Court for his match against Mackenzie McDonald. Young Canadian tennis player Willam Bartram, a participant in ITF World Tennis Tour tournaments worldwide, served as Raonic's training partner.

Bartram has also practiced with Daniil Medvedev and Lorenzo Musetti this week, and he assisted Raonic in warming up for all three of his matches. When asked, Bartram expressed his pride in aiding his fellow countryman's preparation for his victories. He said, "Yes, to some extent. It's fantastic to see him back on the court, free from injuries. When you practice with a player and they win afterward, it's satisfying."

Bartram was also questioned about his experience facing Raonic's serve compared to serves he encounters on the World Tennis circuit. He mentioned, "It's quite impactful. The ball bounces very high, and Milos hits his targets precisely. Even when he indicates where he's serving, I can't always return the ball!".

However, things didn't go as planned for Milos Raonic later when he faced off against McDonald in the first match of the day on Centre Court. His serve, which had been a strength in his first two matches, was not as solid, and he struggled to hit speeds above 200 km/h. Additionally, he produced just nine aces compared to his previous counts of 37 and 15.

After the match, Raonic was asked about the decline in his serve performance. He explained, "I just couldn't hit the same speed; there was a bit of fatigue from my previous matches. I needed to perform better, but unfortunately, I couldn't."

In contrast, McDonald remained unaffected by Raonic's powerful serves, winning an impressive 70 percent of his second-serve returns. This victory earned McDonald a spot in his first quarterfinal at the Masters 1000 Tour tournaments, where he will face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Despite the loss, Raonic can take encouragement from his journey this week, as he exceeded expectations. His record stands at four wins and three losses since his return to the circuit after nearly a two-year absence. Particularly in his match against Tiafoe, he demonstrated his prowess as a formidable opponent when he is in good form on the court. Raonic is now set to compete at the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati followed by the U.S. Open.

Additionally, Priscilla Bulandres, captain of the ball-hunting team and a member of the selection committee for this year's tournament, shared insights. Bulandres was once a ball hunter herself and even participated in the "Legends" team during Holger Rune's match against Marcos Giron. This annual tradition brings back former players to work for the second evening game on Wednesdays.

Bulandres mentioned that young individuals between the ages of 1 and 16 can become ball hunters. These candidates must attend a selection camp in the spring. This year, 25 new recruits made their debut at the National Bank Open.

Bulandres expressed satisfaction with the rookies' performance, stating, "They've been very impressive. We're pleasantly surprised by their level of technical skills—how well they can throw, catch, and run. It's been a great year for the recruits."

During the week, the young ball hunters had a special moment when Denis Shapovalov made an unexpected visit. Bulandres noted that Shapovalov, although never a ball hunter himself, can relate to the fascination that tennis fans feel towards their idols on the court. She mentioned, "He has a great rapport with kids. He knows they admire him, and he ensures he spends time with each of them."

Later in the day, the last Canadian representative, Vasek Pospisil, and his partner Nicolas Mahut faced a doubles loss against sixth-seeded Tim Putz and Kevin Krawietz.

In the evening's star match, Carlos Alcaraz, the world number one, faced a challenge from Hubert Hurkacz. Alcaraz conceded the first set, raising questions about another potential upset. However, he rallied in the second set, winning the decisive game and building momentum to secure a 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(3) victory. Alcaraz will now proceed to the quarterfinals to face Tommy Paul.

Alcaraz's electrifying presence on the court has garnered enthusiastic support from fans, reminiscent of the receptions given to tennis legends like Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. Although it's too early to label him as their successor, fans seem to have already made their choice.

Carlos Alcaraz wins star match, faces Tommy Paul in quarterfinals

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